More than 390,000 people will live in Barnet by the end of the year, according to latest figures.

This means Barnet will become London’s most populated borough, with 393,000 people, an increase of 33 per cent from 1939, when the borough had 296,000 people but London had its previous record number of inhabitants, 8.615 million.

By 2021, an estimated 415,000 people will live in Barnet, increasing to 469,000 by 2039, according to the figures released by the Mayor of London.

The age group that is estimated to grow the most is people aged 65 and older, which is set to increase by 48 per cent between 2011 and 2031.

The bulk of growth is projected to take place in the west of the borough, with Colindale's population estimated to increase by more than 50 per cent between 2014 and 2021, and Golders Green by 30 per cent in the same period.

Councillor Richard Cornelius, leader of Barnet Council, said: “Obviously there is an element of pride and challenge in becoming London’s most populous borough.

"This news has not come as a shock to us, the borough has been steadily growing and we have been preparing for this for years.”